St. Xavier’s College is a pillar of education in Mumbai. The Conclave at its annual Malhar Festival is a high energy event for the student community in all of Mumbai (http://www.malharfest.org/event%20conclave.php).

Several forums were organised during the 3 days – 13th to 15th September – this year, focussing on issues our society faces (corruption, identity, development). Taufiq Qureshi world famous percussionist moderated a panel exploring Culture and Identity – how we can be One in a Billion.

The panellists were, Ranjini Manian – Cultural Thought leader and Founder of India Immersion Center, Nandita Das – Award winning Actor Director, and Professor Andre Beteille India’s Expert in Sociology.

Nandita threw out questions about – should I be myself or adapt to the other, should I be what others want me to be or what I know I am best at – each student explored in the depths of their mind their individual responses. Many panellists agreed on being true to one’s grain, not being Muslim or Hindu but Indian above all was the overriding message. Knowing our own culture – is the big need Ranjini emphasised and throwing out questions like “Why do we wear a bindi or light a lamp,” showed the gap and need to explore. Even Nandita said she hadn’t realised what depth there was in all the lamp lighting she had been asked to do at various inaugurations. Ranjini pointed out how in helping expatriates immerse in Indian culture showed Global Adjustments how the real need is actually increasing the cultural intelligence of Indians about India, so that we can be proud and then become Global Indians.